Power Ranking Every Big 12 Team's 2016 Recruiting Class

A few old powerhouses reclaimed their lost spots atop a conference, a few upstarts fell a few rungs in the rankings, and the never-ending drama of the Big 12 unfolded. Look no further than this list to discover just how much one day—national signing day, that is—can turn this ultra-competitive conference upside down. 

The football continues to be elite, and the recruiting is even better. Take a look down the list to see who rose and who fell as signing day closes out and the Big 12 rearms itself for another brilliant fall extravaganza.

10. Kansas

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Building a football program within a basketball-centered world certainly has its challenges, I'm sure. However, Kansas once again failed to impress on the recruiting trail, turning in just 17 signees for the day. 

The additions of 3-star prospects Maciah Long at linebacker and Chris Hughes at offensive tackle hold some promise, but it's going to take year-after-year of adding similar talent to at least aim at a .500 record. 

Just skip the next couple of years, Jayhawks fans.

9. Kansas State

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The fast-paced world of college recruiting usually leaves head coaches and assistants haggard and sleep-deprived by the time national signing day rolls around. And then there's the old-school version of head coach Bill Snyder, whose age limits his ability to recruit like he did in the past.

Unfortunately for Kansas State, this limited capacity has led to class after class slowly becoming thinner and thinner, with this year's product settling at 19, with no 4-star recruits to speak of. To compete with the powerhouses of this conference, the lackluster quality of this class just isn't going to cut it.

The offensive side of the ball received the heaviest boost with the incoming class, as dual-threat quarterback Skylar Thompson, wide receiver Bryan Pringle and offensive tackle Breontae Matthews serve as the anchors for the group. 

8. Iowa State

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The Cyclones closed a big year on the trail with 29 signees in their class. In this case, quantity was meant to overcome the lack of quality, as a majority of these prospects (26 of 29) fell within the 3-star range and none broached the 4-star classification. 

Over the past decade, Iowa State has brewed a reputation for the occasional upset, but for this program to excel, bringing in a higher-caliber talent is a necessity. Will the Cyclones be able to compete with the product they put on the field this season? Sure, but will they win many games? Not likely.

On a small positive note, the Cyclones did focus their efforts on positions that required immediate help. For example, the class' top prospect—offensive tackle Sean Foster—should be slotted into some playing time from the get-go, while safety recruit Lonnie Johnson has the potential to earn reps as well. 

7. Oklahoma State

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A surprisingly slow recruiting year for the Cowboys may have some fans worried, but considering head coach Mike Gundy's success rate in the past, most should holster those doubts until they actually manifest. Oklahoma State may have missed the target with this season's catch, but the on-field prowess has yet to dip under the reign of the nationally renowned coach. 

The lone 4-star prospect, offensive tackle Tramonda Moore, has the potential to make a difference immediately. Oklahoma State struggled mightily in protecting its slew of quarterbacks this past season, and adding a talented freshman to the mix on the offensive line may give the unit the boost it needs. 

Notably, the Cowboys certainly recruited to need exceptionally well, bringing multiple 3-star recruits on both lines and in the secondary. 

Keep an eye on this slippery slope of poor recruiting, though, as falling into the bottom section of this conference recruiting-wise can spell doom if one isn't careful to recover quickly. Gundy knows this, and I imagine is already working on building a much stronger 2017 haul.

6. Texas Tech

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Considering head coach Kliff Kingsbury's high school football ties in the state of Texas, and the constant media attention he received regarding it following the Red Raiders' win over Arkansas, one might expect more on the recruiting trail this far into his career at Texas Tech.

The results have not spoken the volumes many had hoped it would, even with the fertile grounds of Texas at the coach's fingertips. Of the 25 signees, only two clocked in at the 4-star range, and no notable big names were considering the Red Raiders as a destination. On top of that, both 4-star prospects play wide receiver, a position well-filled currently. Meanwhile, the fledgling defense continues to struggle and play Tech out of games both at home and on the road. 

If this class is to be a jumping-off point, Kingsbury and his staff had best elevate their game on the trail in attracting talent to Lubbock. A good start would come in the form of elite pass rushers or tier-one coverage specialists, especially in the pass-happy Big 12. 

5. West Virginia

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Head coach Dana Holgorsen has shown a flair for recruiting when necessary, but this year proved a little slow for West Virginia. While finishing just below the elite of the conference is not a great disappointment, the Mountaineers need to reel in bigger names with higher ceilings in order to compete for the league title down the road. 

The small amount of 4-star prospects—just three—worries most fans, especially when WVU only continues to regress from its form during its first few years in the Big 12. A few key additions on the defensive side of the ball, such as 4-star prospects Brenden Ferns and Kyzir White, may finally give this suffering unit a boost. 

Unfortunately, though, the Mountaineers' competition has only widened the gap, leaving an even tougher job for both the staff and the team to overcome. As Texas surged with a few notable additions while Baylor, TCU and Oklahoma did their due diligence, West Virginia must tap into another gear on the recruiting trail in order to truly compete in the league. 

4. TCU

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Following the explosive decompression that was the Alamo Bowl, where TCU found the will to win over a high-flying Oregon squad with an unbelievable come-from-behind victory, the Horned Frogs silently went about their business Wednesday. As the Dallas Morning News' Jose Rodriguez reported, head coach Gary Patterson and his team were able to flip wide receiver Ryan Parker, but TCU's talent lies with its early enrollees. 

While national signing day always has some significance, the Horned Frogs made a dent during the early signing period in December with the eight prospects who jumped on board then. Led by athlete Sewo Olonilua, the solid pull gave Patterson and his staff time to focus on gaining a flip and reeling in the hard commits—just as they planned.

In terms of fitting need, TCU plugged most every hole on the roster, adding a few strong defensive pieces mixed in with a multitude of wide receivers and athletes. After signing officially on Wednesday, defensive end Isaiah Chambers has the potential to give the Horned Frogs deadly speed off the edge and put opposing Big 12 quarterbacks in constant dire situations. 

3. Baylor

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Entering the week, Art Briles and his crew in Waco, Texas, were a safe bet to finish atop the conference, especially considering the talent committed to join the football program. However, a late surge from Texas derailed the Bears' first-place bid while Oklahoma's ability to snare 5-star linebacker Caleb Kelly boosted the Sooners over Baylor. 

Don't be fooled, though, the Bears still managed to compile a strong class of playmakers. The lack of any 5-star prospects may have diminished the sheen of the group and no major pick-ups on signing day cut any offseason exposure, but as whole, Baylor put together a tough, competitive recruiting class. 

Baylor quietly locked up some top talent at wide receiver, offensive and defensive line and in the secondary, never making a splash but emitting enough noise to get noticed. The Bears' noisy neighbor to the south may have stolen the day, but look to Briles and Co. to even those odds on the field next fall.

2. Oklahoma

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Just weeks off the cusp of competing for a national title, with a historic season to back up recruiting pitches, head coach Bob Stoops was able to overtake many of his enemies to the south this offseason on the trail. However, rivalries aside, the Sooners added depth and talent where needed, including pass-rushers, wideouts and offensive linemen. 

The big flip for Oklahoma occurred just days ago, when it stole big-time defensive end Mark Jackson Jr. from Texas A&M. Further, a huge boost on signing day itself came late when 5-star outside linebacker Caleb Kelly took the Sooners over multiple other offers, giving this "smallish" sized class a definite spark. 

Otherwise, signing day went mostly according to plan, outside of watching perennial rival Texas rise from nowhere to the cream of crop within hours. 

1. Texas

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Talk about a Texas-sized comeback for a program that many might have already written off for the next few seasons. Visit any pre-signing day article, message board or Austin bar (via your DeLorean, of course) and take notice of the thoughts surrounding the Longhorns' recruiting prowess. 

Seriously, go ahead...I'll wait. 

The consensus was simple and quite straightforward: Texas had lost its edge. 

Well, apparently not. Head coach Charlie Strong and his staff of magicians pulled off a brilliant trick Wednesday morning, stealing high-end multiple prospects across the board and surging from near-fifth in the conference to a solid first. On top of the massive movement conference-wide, the Longhorns watched their in-state class rank jump from fourth to first (over Baylor, TCU and former rival Texas A&M), not to mention rising from the mid-20s to No. 11 overall nationally. 

The addition of top-flight safety prospect Brandon Jones shows just how clear-cut the Longhorns' recruiting abilities are, as the Nacogdoches, Texas, native chose Texas over rising rivals Baylor and Texas A&M. 

Texas made clear it wasn't going to fade away into the darkness without a fight. And if this recruiting class, combined with the national signing day fireworks, is any indication, the Longhorns are winning that battle to remain relevant. 

Team recruiting rankings courtesy of 247Sports.